Healthy Snacks

Healthy snacks are so important to a child's diet. Good snacks provide vitamins, nutrients, and fiber to keep growth on track while high calorie or high fat snacks can sabotage your every effort. Here's how to make good choices and the reasons why it's important to do so.

If you're like most parents, you probably keep a stash of granola, energy, or protein bars on hand for quick, healthy snacks for kids. But with so many options at the grocery store, it can be overwhelming. One protein bar on the shelf may have way too many calories for a kid's snack; a granola bar next to it may be packed with added sugars. With the help of registered dietitians, we've weeded through the options to find snack bars you can feel good about giving your kids.

Whether you're hopping on a plane or hitting the highway, it's guaranteed that your kids are going to need a snack when you travel. Sure, you can pick up something at the airport or a gas station, but chances are you'll be spending big bucks or buying junk food (or both!). Instead, bring one of these easy-to-prep snacks on the road. You'll save some dough and know that your kids are eating snacks they love... that just happen to be healthy.

So your kid has a huge appetite for frozen treats? For a fun April Fool's Day prank, wow him with a popsicle that's as big as his head. Afterwards, chop up the pop and put the pieces in a blender to make delicious shaved ice (that can be served in reasonable-size portions!).